September 2013

October 2012

Because of life changes among most of our members, we are choosing an every other month format in order to keep pressing forward.  So we'll only meet half as often, but we'll still get to meet.  This month our book is Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis.  We met at The Dodo for a great dinner.

This book got five stars from our group.

Sue said, "One of the best books I've read in a while. It drew me in from the first couple pages and the story never let up. It's part science fiction, part historical fiction, part medical thriller, and part religious exploration that's gripping and fascinating. The characters were of all ages and very interesting. Wonderful book!"

Linda said, "Loved this book and the lessons learned. It combines science and historical fiction. A great read for teens and adults. Thought about this book long after I finished it. To me that's the sign of a great book, one that makes me think."

Alison said, "Just as good - maybe even better - on this re-reading! Historical fiction. Travel travel. Spirituality. This book has it all!"

Karen said, "Sometimes you never get enough time at once to really read a book. Unfortunately that was the case with this book, it was read in stolen snatches of time over the course of 2 weeks. This book is part medical thriller, part time travel, part historical fiction. It tells two stories with connected characters in parallel hundreds of years apart. Kirvin traveling back in time to the 1300s to observe life there, while her contemporary counterparts struggles with the outbreak of the flu and the holidays in her time (around 2050). Interesting read, great book club selection."

February 2012-our third anniversary

We had a great lunch at Red Iguana 2 in downtown SLC and an interesting discussion of the book, East by Edith Pattou, and how the everyday tasks of life are what make life worth living.  We gave the book and average of 4 stars.


Linda said:  "Well written fairy tale. The heroine is a good role model for young women in many ways as she goes off to rescue her prince. My 18 yr old daughter picked this book up while I was out-of-town and when I came back she owned a copy."

Karen said: "This is the retelling of the Beauty & the Beast tale with a Scandinavian setting. Each chapter changes points of views between Neddy, Rose, the White Bear & the Troll Queen. It is well written & flows smoothly. I just found when I wasn't actually reading it, I forgot I was even in the middle of it. This would be a good book for middle school aged girls."

Alison said: "Both of my daughters had previously read and loved East when I picked it up for one of my book clubs. I enjoyed this version of the Norwegian folk tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" - which is a "Beauty and the Beast"-type story - and I'd now like to read Jessica Day George's version Sun and Moon Ice and Snow.

I did find the last forty or so pages to be a little anti-climatic - which disappointed me after I had felt so invested in Rose's journey to save the white bear."

Sue said: " I give this 4 1/2 stars. It was a great re-telling of the East of the Sun West of the Moon story that used that basic framework but then spun a truly original story. The characters were interesting, the writing was good, the form was interesting where it was told from different viewpoints, and it had a satisfying ending. It was a good YA story with thought-provoking themes."